Two-cycle engine



Sept. 1936. B. KAHN 2,053,242

TWO- CYCLE ENGINE Filed April 17, 1935" li Z9 Patented Sept. 1, 1936UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,053,242 Two-CYCLE ENGINE BenjaminA Kahn,New York, N. Y'. Application April 1'7, 1933, serial Na. 666,418

2s claims. (C1. 12s-53) This invention relates to improvements intwostroke cycle internal combustion engines of the opposed piston typehaving substantially straight-thru or end-to-end scavenging. ef-

fect.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a compact engine ofthis type.

Another object is to provide an engine of the .above character with theminimum number of l0 crankshaft throws per piston section.

The principle feature of the invention consists in angularly relatingthe end-to-end cylinders and further consists in offsetting theend-toend cylinders to effect the compactness of the engine and thesimplicity of its crank train.

In the drawing, forming part of this disclosure, the illustrations showthe principle of the invention, it being understood that various changesmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional View of a single cylinder engineconstructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating theangulated relationship of the pistons.

Figure 2 is a similar sectional view of obtuse V-type engine constructedin accordance with the engine shown in Fig. 1..

Figure 3 is a similar view of a diamond shaped engine constructed inaccordance with the engine shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a, longitudinal section of a modif-led form of the engineshown in Fig. 3.

In the form of the engine illustrated in Fig. 1

a crankcase I0 is provided with a cylinder block having a bore II and `acrosshead bore I2. An intake piston I3 is adapted to operate in bore IIand is suitably connected to a crankshaft I4 by means of a connectingrod I5. A crosshead I6 is adapted to operate in the bore I2 and issuitably connected to a crankshaft I'I by means of a connecting rod I8.In order to counteract torque reaction of the engine, both crankshaftsare adapted to rotate at the same speed, and

opposite directions to each other. This may be accomplished by gears I9and 20.l In conjunction with suitable counterweights on the shafts thetorque reactions are counteracted.

A cylinder head 2| is secured to the cylinder block and is provided witha bore 22. An exhaust piston 23 is adapted to operate in. said bore andis secured to the crosshead I6 by means of tie rods 25 on both sides ofthe exhaust piston and crosshead. These tie rods are disposed behindeach other, lengthwise of the engine. These rods are arranged outside ofthe combustion chamber, and lie above the intake pistons and within theprojecting space required by the intake piston between confining planesof the space required by said intake piston lengthwise of the v:s

engine. In other words, the space required lengthwise of the engine toaccommodate these tie rods one group behind another, is less than thespace required by the intake pistons one behind another lengthwise ofthe engine. This in 1u effect allows a. minimum engine length for aplurality of intake pistons of a given diameter. For example, in afour-in-line engine of 5 ins. intake piston diameter, the length of theengine would be about 24 ins. including slight space between 1ocylinders. It is intended that the tie rods connecting the exhaustpistons 23 with their crossheads I6 should not be more than 5 ins. whichleaves sufficient space between each pair of tie rods to allow for anexhaust piston of ample di- `20 ameter so as not to restrict the exhaustport capacity.

A cover 26 is secured to the cylinder head 2I to enclose the exhaustpiston. An oilpan 21 forms a bottom closure for the crankcase I0. `225Intake ports 28 are suitably arranged around the cylinder bore II andare controlled by the intake piston. Exhaust ports 29 surround theexhaust cylinder bores 22 and are controlled by the exhaust piston 23.30

The exhaust piston and its associated pa-rts are arranged in alignmentbut are angularlydisposed with respect to the alignment of the intakepiston and are oiset therefrom.

This .angular oiset of the exhaust piston and .35 its associated partspermits the exhaust piston to lie substantially over the intake pistonto effect substantially straight-thru scavenging and further permits thetie rods to pass downwardly and alongside the intake piston within theprojected v4.0 space of the intake cylinder. This arrangement ofextending. the exhaust crank train substantially downwardly minimizesthe height of the engine, and the disposition of the crank trainsubstantially alongside the intake cylinder requires .'45

-no additional space longitudinally of a multicylinder engine; therebyminimizing the length thereof.

Figure 2 shows the application of the invention to form a. V typevengine.. An exhaust crankshaft Ila. similar to the crankshaft I1 buthaving two throws one for each exhaust piston, is adapted. to operatetwo exhaust pistons in a manner heretofore described..

1 A single crankshaft I4a similar to thecrank- 55 shaft I4 is adapted tooperate two intake pistons in the same manner as described in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 shows the application of the invention shown in Fig. 2 inmultiple forms, to provide a diamond shape engine.

An exhaust crankshaft i'ib similar to the crankshaft I'Ia of Fig. 2, isadapted to operate the exhaust pistons in a similar manner. Two intakepiston operating crankshafts Idb are arranged on opposite sides ofthecrankshaft Hb. Each of these,V intake crankshaits areuadapted to operatetwo intake pistons i3 which are obtusely disposed as indicated at X inthe manner described in Figure 2.

each having one combustion chamberlfoneach group common to twocombustion groups each Figure 4 is a modied form of the engine shown inFig. 3. Instead ci using three individual crankshafts,.a singlecrankshaft 35 hasfbeen substituted which necessitatedthe enlargement ofthe included angle Xto 180 degrees normal with the cylinder axes to thecrankshaft.

1 Having thusvdescribed the invention,4 what is claimed as new anddesired to vsecure by Letters Patent, is:-`

1. A two-stroke cycle internalcombustion engine. comprising a pluralityof power units, each having Uv type cylinder, a` single combustionchamber'. communicating therewith, a cylinder communicating with saidYcombustion chamber in opposed relation to said U type cylinder, pistonsvadapted to operate inthe cylinders, and crank throws for each of thepistons arranged on the-same side of the combustion chamber.

2. Ankinternal combustion Vengine 'having in combination, a plurality ofpower units, each power unithaving a U. type cylinder vincluding acombustion. chamber,.pistons adapted to move in substantially parallelunison in the legs of the U type cylinder, and piston means incommunication with. said .combustion chamber adapted to movesubstantially. iopposite: to said pistons in said U .type cylinder. i

3. Anl internal combustion enginehaving in combination,v a :plurality ofvpower units, each power unit -having a U..type'cylinder including acombustion chamber, pistons adapted l to .move in unison 'm said U typecylinder,ipistonmeans in communication withsaid combustion chamberadapted to oppose said pistons insaid `U type cylinder,.and a singlecrank shaft cooperating with all of said pistons. v

4. An internal combustion engine havingin combination, a plurality ofpower units, each power unit having a U .type cylinder including acombustion chamber, pistons Yadaptedto move in unison in. said Utypecylinder, piston means in communicatio-n with said combustionchamber adapted to move opposite to said pistons-in said `U typecylinder, and aV single crank throw'for the piston means adapted tooppose the pistons in the U type cylinder.

, 5. In a Vtwo-stroke cycle internal combustion engine, thecombinationincluding a single combustion chamber, angularly disposedIand'substantially oppositely moving intake and exhaust controllingpistons commonly communicative with the combustion chamber, Voperablyconnected ycrank means, and separate connecting' means independentlyoperable Vbetween Veach piston and its crank means, whereby the intakepiston conn ecting means is under compression 'and the Iexhaust pistonconnecting means isf-under tension With this construction an" engine isformed having two combustion groups during the expansion stroke of theengine, said exhaust piston connecting means including a pair of tierods disposed side by side lengthwise of the engine, outside of thecombustion chamber, to one side of the engine, and within the projectedspace required by the intake piston, lengthwise of the engine.

6. A two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine of substantiallystraight thru scavenging type including substantially opposed intake andexhaust cylinders, a single combustion chamber, substantially oppositelymoving intake and ex- .haust pistons commonly communicative with theUcombustion chamber and operable in the cylinders,

and a cylinder head, said cylinders being angularly disposed to eachother, one of said piston ymean's'operable in said cylinder head. havingtwo intake pistons and one exhaust piston.

`'7. A two-strokecycle internal combustion engine includingsubstantially opposed intake and exhaust cylinders, a cylinder block, anassociated cylinder head having ports, intake port controlling pistonmeans operable in said cylinder block, exhaust port controlling pistonmeans in said cylinder head, said piston means being adapted to movesubstantially oppositely, and connecting rod means for the exhaustpiston means including tie-rods outside the combustion chamber and theexhaust piston and within the projected space of the intake piston meanslengthwise of the engine.

8. In a two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine of substantiallystraight thru scavenging typethe combination including substantiallyopposed cylinders, an intake controlling piston in one of the cylinders,over-head exhaust pistonvalve. means in the other of said cylinders,said piston-valve means being angularly disposed and substantiallyopposite in movement to said intake piston, and a crank for the exhaustvalve means disposedin the projected path of the exhaust valve meansduring its compression stroke.

9. A two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine including a singlecommon combustion chamber, three opposed port controlling piston means,a cylinder head, one of said piston means adapted to control exhaustports yoperable in said head, and'operable connecting means for saidexhaust pistonf outside of theV combustion chamber and within theprojected space of the intake pistons lengthwise of the engine.

' 1 0. A two-strokeV cycle internal combustion engine including aplurality of power units, each power unit having a singlecombustionchamber, intake and exhaust controlling piston means commonlycommunicative in the combustion chamber, Aand crank throws associatedrespeci tively with each of said piston means, said exhaust pistonsadapted to move away and said intake piston means adapted to moveVtoward their respective' crank throws during the expansion stroke, acrank shaft associated with all the intake piston means, and all exhaustpiston means being connected to another crankshaft, said crankshaftsbeing operably interconnected and adapted tov rotate oppositely.

11. An Vinternal combustion engine including a crankshaft, a singlecombustion chamber, a plurality of cylinders communicating with saidcombustion chamber and disposed between the combustion chamber and thecrankshaft, a cylinder communicating with said combustion chamber remoteof the crankshaft, pistons in said cylinders', and connecting means forthe piston in the remote cylinder including the rods outside of thecombustion chamber and within the projected space of the irst` mentionedrcylinders lengthwise of the engine.

12. A two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine includingsubstantially opposed intake and exhaust cylinders, intake and exhaustpiston means adapted to operate in said cylinders, a single connectingmeans associated with each of said piston means, and a single crankthrow for each of said connectingA means, the intake piston meansadapted to move toward and the exhaust piston means adapted to move awayfrom their respective connecting means during the expansion stroke, saidconnecting means for the exhaust piston including means within theprojected space of the intake cylinder lengthwise of the engine andoutside the exhaust cylinder.

13. A two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine including a pluralityof power units, each of said power units having opposed intake andvexhaust cylinders, intake and exhaust piston means adapted to operatein said cylinders, separate connecting means associat-ed with each ofsaid pistonl means, the intake piston means of each unit adapted to movetoward and the exhaust piston means adapted to move away from theirrespective connecting means during the expansion stroke of the powerunit, a single crank throw for all piston means adapted to move toward,and a single crank throw for all piston means adapted to-move away fromtheir respective connecting means during the expansion stroke of therespective units, said connecting means for the exhaust piston includingmeans within the projected space of the intake pistons lengthwise of theengine and outside the projected space of the exhaust pistons.

14. A two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine having a singlecombustion chamber, intake and exhaust pistons commonly communicativewith the combustion chamber, a single crank throw for each of thepistons, the intake piston adapted to move toward and the exhaust pistonadapted to move away from their respective crank throws during theexpansion stroke of the engine, and tie rods operatively associated withsaid exhaust piston and arranged within the lengthwise confiningparallel planes of the intake piston, said tie rods extending to andconnecting at the open end of the exhaust piston.

15. A two-stroke cycle internal combustio-n engine including a piston, ahead, an over-head piston-valve, a single individual crankshaft for saidpiston, another single individual crankshaft for said piston-valve, saidpiston-valve adapte-d to move away from'its crankshaft during theexpansion stroke of the engine, and connecting means for thepiston-valve in line with the axis of the piston-valve.

16. A two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine including a pluralityof power units each having a piston, and an over-head piston-valve, acrankshaft in the engine to operate all of the said pistons, and anothercrankshaft for all of said piston-valves of the engine, saidpistonvalves adapted to move away from their crankshaft during theexpansion stroke of the engine.

17. A two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine including a singlecombustion chamber, three parallel pistons commonly communicative withsaid combustion chamber, and a cylinder head, one of said piston meansoperable in said head and adapted to move opposite the other two.

18. A two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine including a singlecombustion chamber, three parallel pistons commonly communicative withsaid combustion chamber', a cylinder head and a crank throw for each ofsaid pistons, one of said pistons operable in said head and adapted tomove away from its crank throw during the expansion `stroke of theengine.

19. Inra two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine, the combinationincluding substantially opposed cylinders, a single combustion chambercommonly communicative with the cylinders, substantially oppositelymoving intake and exhaust controlling pistons inv the cylinders, asingle crank-throw fory each of the pistons in line with theirrespective pistons, working faces on the pistons entirely exposed to thecombustion chamber during maximum compression of the engine, and means`whereby the intake controlling piston moves toward and the exhaustcontrolling piston moves away from its respective crankthrow duringA theexpansion stroke of the engine.

29. In a two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine, the combinationincluding angularly disposed cylinders, a single combustion chambercommonly communicative with the cylinders, intake and exhaustcontrolling pistons in the cylinders, a single-crank-throw for each ofthe pistons in line with their respective pistons, working faces on thepistons entirely exposed to the combustion chamber during maximumcompression of the engine, and means whereby the exhaust controllingpiston moves away from its crank-throw during the expansion strokethereof.

21. In a two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine, the combination.including a crankshaft, asingle combustion chamber,` a plurality ofcylinders commonly communicative with, the combustion chamber, aplurality of intake pistons in the cylinders, an exhaust piston'working` in one of the cylinders substantially opposite in direction tothe pistons in the intake cylinders, a single crank-throw on thecrankshaft cooperating with the exhaust piston, and means whereby theexhaust piston moves away from its crank-throw during the expansionstroke of the engine.

22. In a two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine, the combinationincluding angularly disposed and substantially opposed cylinders, intakeand exhaust pistons in the cylinders, a single crank-throw for thepiston in the exhaust cylinder, and means whereby said piston moves awayfrom its crank-throw during the expansion stroke of the engine.

23. In a two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine of thesubstantially straight-thru scavenging type, the combination ofsubstantially opposite moving pistons communicative with a singlecombustion chamber, a single crank-throw crankshaft for each of thepistons, said crankthrows substantially adjacent to each other, andmeans connecting the crankshafts whereby they are caused to rotate atequal speed and in opposite directions, thereby counteracting theirtorque reactions on the engine of the moving parts associated with thecrankshafts.

24. In a two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine, the combinationincluding an intake piston, an exhaust piston, said pistons adapted tomove substantially oppositely and adapted to communicate with a singlecombustion chamber, a single crankpin for the intake piston, a singlecrankpin for the exhaust piston substantially in the extended axis ofthe exhaust piston, said exhaust piston adapted to move away and saidintake piston adapted to move toward their respective crankpins duringthe expansion stroke of the engine, and connecting means including aconnecting rod between the exhaust piston and its crankpin, saidconnecting means being disposed substantially symmetrically along theaxis of the exhaust piston.

25. In an internal combustion engine the combination of anintake-controlling and power-contributing piston, an exhaust-controllingand power-contributing piston, said pistons having closed ends commonlycommunicative with a single combustion chamber, a crankshaft, aconnecting rod for the intake piston, means cooperating with the exhaustpiston including a second crankshaft parallel to the rst mentionedcrankshaft and having its axis coplanar with the axis of the exhaustpiston, a crosshead, a connecting rod between the crosshead and thesecond crankshaft, and tie rods between the crosshead and the open endof the exhaust piston, said tie rod extending from the open end of theexhaust piston in the direction of the closed end of the exhaust piston,said connecting rod for the exhaust piston being disposed alongside theintake piston. Y

26. In a two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine, the combinationincluding a single combustion chamber, oppostely moving intake andexhaust controlling pistons commonly communicative with the combustionchamber, a single crank-throw for each of the pistons in line with theirrespective pistons, and means whereby the intake piston moves toward andthe exhaust piston away from their respective crank-throws during theexpansion stroke of the engine, said means includingconnectingmeansbetween the exhaust piston and its crank-throw, saidconnecting means being disposed outside the combustion chambersubstantially on one side of the engine and conned within a spacesmaller than the projected space of the intake piston.

27. In a two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine, the combinationincluding a single combustion chamber, substantially oppositely movingintake and exhaust controlling pistons offset with respect to each otherand commonly communicative with said combustion chamber, a singleindividual crank-throw for each of said pistons in line with theirrespective pistons, and means whereby the intake piston moves toward andthe exhaust piston away from their respective crankthrow during theexpansion stroke of the engine, said means including connecting meansbetween the exhaust piston and its crank-throw, said connecting meansbeing disposed outside the combustion chamber substantially on one sideof the engine and within the projected space of the intake piston.

28. In a two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine, the combinationincluding a single combustion chamber, angularly disposed andsubstantially oppositely moving intake and exhaust controlling pistonscommonly communicative with the combustion chamber, operably connectedcrank means in line with and independently connected with one of saidpistons, the intake piston being disposed between its crank means andthe combustion chamber and the exhaust piston being disposed adjacentthe combustion chamber and remote of its crank means, and connectingmeans for the exhaust piston disposed outside of the combustion chamber,substantially to one side thereof, and Within the longitudinal projectedspace of the engine required by the intake piston.

BENJAMIN KAHN.

